Confidentiality

Confidentiality

Is a lawyer required to keep the client’s information confidential?

Clients can feel secure that all information provided to their lawyer will be held secret and confidential. Lawyers provide effective service to a client when there is full and open communication. Solicitor-client privilege is the cornerstone of a client's relationship with a lawyer.

Section 3.3-1 of the Code of Professional Conduct requires a lawyer to "hold in strict confidence all information concerning the business and affairs of the client acquired in the course of the professional relationship … unless expressly or impliedly authorized by the client, required by law or a court to do so, required to deliver to the information to the Law Society, or otherwise permitted by this rule." A breach of this rule could result in an investigation by the Law Society. Please see the Codefor exceptions.